Spot printing and transfer mechanism



Aug. 5, 1958 H. NIELSEN ETAL 2,

SPOT PRINTING AND TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed May 25, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

5, 1958 H. Nl ELSEN ETAL 2,845,861

SPOT PRINTING AND TRANSFER MECHANISM Filed May 25, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M IfENTORSd BY ATTORNEYS.

8- 1958 H. NIELSEN ET AL 2,845,861

SPOT PRINTING AND TRANSFER MECHANISM s Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 25, 1954 I 1 vV M01224 BY% ATTORNEYS Unite States 2,845,861 Patented Aug. 5, 1958 SPOT PRINTING AND TRANSFER MECHANESM Harry Nielsen, Harvey, and Christopher H. Perth, Chicage, 11]., assignors to The Reuben H. Donnetley Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Ellinois Application May 25, 1954, Serial No. 432,158

6 Claims. (Cl. 101-232) This invention relates to spot printing and transfer mechanism. The invention is particularly useful in connection with the stufiing or filling of envelopes and the picking-up and transferring of sheets, paper inserts, envelopes, etc.

In the filling of envelopes, transfer and delivery of papers from stacks, etc., it is often desirable to imprint upon the envelope, paper or document a code number, date, or other information, while at the same time not interfering with the transfer operation, filling operation, etc. complished without interfering with other printed surfaces or with the envelope filling, sealing, or other operations, and that the added imprinting be accomplished in a time sequence which will not limit the speed of or interfere with the transferring, envelope filling, or other steps.

An object of the present invention is to provide simple and effective mechanism whereby the spot printing with the code numbers, dates or other information may be accomplished in time sequence to the paper-transferring mechanism or other mechanism, and without delaying the normal operation thereof. A further object is to provide simple and effective means whereby power taken from the motor of the envelope-filling or transferring mechanism is utilized in the operation of the auxiliary printing means, whereby the desired additional information is imprinted upon the document being transferred in time sequence to the other mechanisms. Still another object is to provide spot printing mechanism "applicable to paper-handling devices wherein the rela tively few parts may be effectively employed in interchangeable relation, in connection with the other mechanisms for effecting the imprinting upon the sheet, envelope or documents at the desired points. Yet another object is to provide an improved means for the application of ink to the auxiliary or code imprinting mechanism, greatly reducing the apparatus heretofore believed necessary for use in imprinting devices. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of apparatus embodying our invention; Fig. 2, a broken, enlarged, sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a broken plan View of the drive shaft employed for the spot printing mechanism; Fig. 4, a vertical sectional View showing the spot printing mechanism employed in conjunction with the paper transfer means, etc.; Fig. 5, a sectional detail View, the section being taken as indicated at line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6, a perspective view of structure shown in Fig. 5,

It is further important that the imprinting be ac- 2 Journaled in bearings on the members 11 and 12 is a drive shaft 13, equipped with a sprocket 14 engaged by the drive chain 15. The chain 15 is driven by a sprocket 16 mounted on shaft 17. The shaft 17 is driven by the machine motor (not shown). An idler sprocket 18 is supported in contact with chain 15 by the shaft 19.

Fixed upon the driven shaft 13 is a large gear 20 which meshes with a pinion 21 on shaft 22. Shaft 22 carries a large gear 23 which in turn meshes with gear 24 on shaft 25. Shaft 25 carries a one-revolution clutch 26 equipped with a tooth 27 engageable with a pawl 28 piv otally mounted on the pin 29 and actuated by a driven cam 36, as shown in greater detail in Fig. 2. Since the one-revolution clutch shown is of well-known construction, a detailed description herein is believed unnecessary. It is sufiicient to state that by the means shown, the shaft 25 is driven intermittently in one direction, being rotated rapidly and then pausing before the next revolution occurs. A shaft 31 is connected to the driven shaft 25a by the clutch coupling 32. The actuating shaft 31, which is thus driven intermittently in one direction, is shown in greater detail in Fig. 3.

The shaft 31 is provided at spaced intervals with a hub 33 carrying a gear 34, the purpose of the gear being to drive the auxiliary printing mechanism which will later be described. Also mounted upon shaft 31, as shown best in Fig. 3, are the spaced hubs 35 carrying the printing platens or rollers 36. It will be noted that the platens 36 are mounted in spaced relation upon the shaft 31 and are adapted to receive thereon sheets of paper which are designated by the numeral 37. The paper or document 37 may be an envelope, a single sheet, an insert for an envelope, or any paper which is being transferred or otherwise handled.

Mounted above each of the platens 36 is the spot printing mechanism which will now be described. Mounted upon the table 10 is a standard or support 38, as shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 6. The standard has a base portion 39 fixed by bolts 40 to the table 10, and above the base portion 39 extends a forwardly-projecting block 41 provided with a longitudinal recess 42. A shaft 43 extends through the base 39 and at its opposite end carries a gear 47 meshing with the drive gear 34.

A transfer roller 48 is mounted above and adjacent to the printing roller 44 and is carried by shaft 49, which extends through plate 51) and through the adjustment block 51 and plate 52 carried thereby, the opposite end of shaft 4-9 being secured to the gear 53. Gear 53 meshes with gear 47 and is driven thereby. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, the platen roller 36, the printing roller 44, and the transfer roller 48 all have axes lying in the same vertical plane.

In order to adust the transfer roller 48 in a vertical direction, we provide an adjustment screw 54 extending through the top of the frame block 38 and having its lower end portion extending into a recess 55 in the block 51. The lower end portion of the screw 54 is equipped with a reduced shank carrying a head 56, and a pin 57 is inserted above the head 56 to lock the same within the block 51. By this means, when the screw 54 is rotated within the threaded opening in block 41, the shaftcarrying block 51 may be raised slightly or lowered slightly within the recess 42 which is larger than the plates 50 and 52 supported therein.

In order to feed inks effectively to the feed roller 48, we provide a large sponge rubber roller 58, carrier upon a roller arm 59 fixed to the bracket 60. As shown in Fig. 4, the ink containing sponge roller is disposed so that its axis lies in a different plane than the vertical plane along which the axes of the platen roll, the printing roller and the transfer roller extend. The bracket 60 is equipped with a pin 61 which extends into and is secured within an opening in the block 4-1 above the transfer roller. By this means, the large sponge rubber roller 58 is pivotally supported for engagement with the transfer roller 43 so as to feed ink to the transfer roller. When the transfer roller is adjusted upwardly, the sponge roller which it abuts swings along an upwardly and outwardly extending arc to accommodate the newly positioned transfer roller, and at the same time, the contact pressure between the transfer roller and the sponge roller is increased. Conversely, when the transfer roller is lowered by means of screw 54, the sponge roller drops downwardly and inwardly and the contact pressure between the two rollers is reduced. It will be understood that the sponge rubber roller may be formed of any suitable porous material effective as a reservoir for the holding of ink and the releasing of the same to the transfer roller. We have found that a sponge rubber roller of this type is effective as a fount or reservoir, and that it would serve for long periods of time in supplying ink to the separate little printing rollers 44 on the machine.

In the specific illustration given, the spot printing mechanism is shown employed in connection with a machine employed for the transfer of sheets from a stack or pile, and the mechanism is used in connection with the filling or stuffing of envelopes and various other structures in which papers are being continuously transferred from one pile to another or from a single line to a stack, etc. Since the mechanisms are well known, it is believed that a brief description may be set out herein. As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, there is provided a table or dis charge flange 62, from which a paper sheet 37 is being drawn by a picker arm 63. In the illustration given, the picker arm 63 is swung backwardly and forwardly bythe rocker shaft 64, and a gripper lever 65 is actuated upon the pivot 66 by the rod 67 mounted upon rock shaft 68. In the operation shown, the arm 63 swings forwardly between the platens 36 to engage the sheet 37 about midway thereof (as shown best in Figs. 3 and 4), and the sheet, envelope or other document is thus drawn forwardly over the platen 36. As the sheet is drawn forwardly, the printer roll 44 is rotated, bringing the imprinting members 46 into contact with the sheet so as to impress thereon the code numbers, letters, dates, or other information. At the same time, it will be observed that the printing roller 44, as it rotates, cooperates with the feed arm 63, thus advancing the sheet 37.

it will be understood that any mechanism for the re-' ceiving, stacking, and depositing of the sheets may be employed. In the specific illustration given, the sheets 37 are deposited upon a track 69 having side rails, and a presser device 70, of well-known construction, is provided for securing the stacked sheets in place. An intermittently driven chain conveyor 71 is provided for propelling the sheets forwardly at timed intervals, and for this purpose the chains 71 are equipped with drive fingers 72 extending upwardly through slots 73 in the table 10.

in the spot printing mechanism shown best in Figs. 5 and 6, an adjustment screw 74 is provided so that upon the loosening of either of the screws 40 and the tightening of the screw 74, the supporting structure may be tilted slightly in one direction or in another.

Operation In the operation of the apparatus, the shaft 13 is rotated by the action of chain 15 and thereby power is transmitted through gears 20, 21, 23 and 24- to the shaft 25, which in turn is connected to shaft 25a through the one-revolution clutch 26. By the operation of this well-known clutch mechanism, shaft 25 and shaft 31 connected there to are rotated intermittently in one direction. Through the action of the several gears 34 mounted upon shaft 31, each of the spot printing mechanisms disposed on opposite sides of the transfer mechanism 63 are operated in timed relation to the mechanism 63. As the lever 63 moves forwardly to engage the sheet or envelope 37, the

printing portion 46 of the printing roll 44 is out of contact with the sheet. However, as the sheet is being withdrawn in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, the printing roll 44 rotates to bring the printing surfaces 46 into contact with the sheet 37 and as the sheet moves to the right, the impressions are formed thereon and the imprinted sheet or envelope is then dropped into position within the receptacle or conveyor 69. In the foregoing operation, ink is applied from the sponge body 58 to the transfer roller 48 and thence to the printing surfaces 46 of the printing roller 44. The printing roller 44 operates, as described above, in timed relation with the lever arm 63 so as to deposit the imprinting upon the sheet 37 as the printing surfaces 46 move in contact with and progressively with the sheet 37.

With the structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6, adjustment of the printing structure to meet the needs of printing matter being treated, etc., can be made readily. For example, if it is desired to tilt the support structure 39 in either direction, one of the screws 40 may be loosened and the screw 74 tightened to produce the desired tilting. Similarly, if it is desired to raise or lower the transfer roller 43, this may be accomplished by the raising or lowering of the screw 54, with the resultant raising of the block 51 which carries shaft 49. With the structure shown, there is no need for right and left parts, because with the structure shown in detail in Fig. 6, the parts may be reversed on the single support 38 to arrange the parts in the desired right-hand or left-hand positions. The single structure, therefore, takes care of the different arrangements required for the oppositely-facing platens 36, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

In the machine operations described, it will be understood that the shaft 67 carries a number of arms 63 which cooperate with the plurality of platens and gears, as shown in Fig. 3, so that a large number of sheets, envelopes, etc., are imprinted at the same time by the operation of the machine.

While, in the foregoing specification, we have set forth specific structure in considerable detail, it will be understood that such details of structure may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

i. In a spot printing mechanism having a plurality of parallel rollers, at least one platen roller, a printing roller being mounted adjacent to said platen roller, an ink transfer roller being mounted adjacent to said printing roller, said platen, printing and transfer rollers have axes lying along a first plane, and an ink containing roller being mounted adjacent to said transfer roller and being in surface contact therewith, said ink containing roller having an axis lying in a second plane, said transfer roller being adjustably mounted for movement along said first plane, and said ink containing roller being pivotally mounted for swinging movement towards and away from said first plane in response to the adjustment of said transfer roller.

2. In a spot printing mechanism having a frame and a shaft rotatably mounted therein equipped with at least one platen roller, a standard mounted upon said frame adjacent to each platen roller and supporting a pair of rotatable parallel shafts extending along the same plane of said platen roller, one of said shafts bearing a printing roller, and the other of said shafts bearing an ink transfer roller, said second-mentioned shaft being adjustable along said plane toward and away from said first-mentioned shaft, and an ink-containing roller parallel and adjacent to said transfer roller and being pivotally mounted upon said standard for swinging movement along an are extending away from the plane of adjustment of the shaft carrying said transfer roller, said ink containing roller being in surface contact with said transfer roller for swinging movement in response to adjustment of the shaft supporting said transfer roller. 75

3. The structure of claim 2, in which said ink-containing roller is secured to said standard by a bracket being pivotally mounted at one end thereof to said standard, and having an arm at the opposite end thereof adapted to rotatably support said ink-containing roller.

4. The structure of claim 2, in which said ink-containing roller is formed of sponge rubber.

5. In combination with a frame and a shaft rotatably mounted therein, and provided at spaced intervals with gears and platen rollers, a standard mounted on said frame adjacent to each platen roller and supporting a pair of horizontal and parallel shafts, one of said shafts carrying a printing roller, and the other of said shafts having mounted thereon an ink-transfer roller, said shaft carrying said ink-transfer roller being vertically adjustable upon said standard, and a sponge roller containing ink being rotatably mounted adjacent to said transfer roller and being in surface contact therewith, said sponge roller being pivotally mounted upon said standard for swinging movement along an upwardly and outwardly extending arc, whereby, upward movement of said transfer roller produces upward and outward pivoting of said adjacent sponge roller, and downward movement of said transfer roller causes said sponge roller to swing downwardly and inwardly.

6. The structure of claim 4 in which there is a bracket having one end thereof pivotally mounted upon said standard above the shaft carrying said adjustable transfer roller and having an arm at the opposite end thereof for rotatably supporting said sponge roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 835,903 Grant Nov. 13, 1906 1,914,502 Heaton June 20, 1933 2,003,469 Ritzerfeld June 4, 1935 2,166,271 Storck July 18, 1939 2,622,518 Peterson et a1 Dec. 23, 1952 2,625,102 Skow Jan. 13, 1953 

